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' (No Model.)

C. G. PERKINS.

SWITCH FOR INGANDESGBNT ELECTRIC LAMPS. No.` 274,653. Patented Mar.27,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,653, dated March 27, 1883.

(No model.)

Io all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PERKiNs, of the city of Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switches for Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a plan view taken at the line avm, Fig. 3, illustrating the construction otl the mechanism of my improved switch, particularly the operative position ot the contactsprings a a and the grooves in c 0, in which contact with the burners is made. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 3, showing the internal mechanism complete and the handle for operating the same. Fig. 4t is an isolated View of the revolving contact-springs. Fig. 5 represents the contact-blocks referred to in Fig.' 1, showing the grooves into which the revolving contact-springs glide when the lampsv are put in circuit. Fig. 6 shows a view of a safety-spring arrangement to permit ot' the switch-handle revolving the contact mechanism in one direction only. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the notched or ratched part h3, showing the shoulder which meets the spring h' when it isrequired to revolve the -switch mechanism.

The object of this improvement is to provide a suitable switch i'or operating a number of electric burners upon an electrolier, and the mechanism for this purpose is so constructed that from one to six burners may be turned on or ofi', as desired.

In the drawings accompanying this speciiication I have shown a switch to operate from one to six burners; but I do not wish to be confined to this limit, my switch being susceptible of being so constructed as to control any number of burners upon a chandelier or otherwise.

In Fig. l, a a represent six curved metallic contact-springs, which are revolved by the switch-handle b, Fig. 2.

In Figs. 1 and 5, c c are insulating blocks or rests, having grooves therein, c' c', and stoppins c2 c2, over which the contact-springs a a ride, so that the latter may snap quickly onto the contact-plate c' c when a a are turned to pnt the lamp or lamps in circuit. Fixed at the base of these grooves are metallic strips, and in electrical contact therewith are the wires d d, Fig. 2.

The metallic contact-springs a c are arranged in two series of three each, as shown at s s2, Fig. 2, and they, together with the grooves c' c', into which they glide, are so constructed as to gradually vary in width, ay c also varying in length, so that when it is required to put only one lamp in circuit the broadest contactspring will pass over two grooves in each series ot' three and will only iit into its own. By this arrangement, when thehandle bis turned in the proper direction., one, two, or three burners in each series may be put in circuit.

Assuming that the two series of contactsprings are in circuit, if, now, the handle I) is turned from right to left, the broadest spring will in each series snap olf the contact basestrip c c', thereby putting one lamp in each series ont of circuit. Continuing the action of turning b, the next contact-spring snaps into the groove left vacant by the first spring. Continuing the action still further, the third sprin g snaps into the first groove vacated by the first and second springs. It will thus be seen that one of the contact-springs a a. will fit any of the three grooves c c c', one will t two, and one will it its own groove only. This arrangement may be varied, so that only one lamp at the time need to be put in circuit, by suitably varying the length ot' the springs c c c; or all the lamps upon the electrolier may be put in circuit at the same time, if desired.

On referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that b is insulated at c c from the body of the inclosing switch-box. The shaft of b forms one pole ot the circuit, and the revolving contactsprings c are fixed thereon so as to be in electrical contact therewith.

' h' h2 is an arrangement for allowing the handle b to revolve the contact-springs c in one direction only.

His a spring, as shown in Fig. G, which passes down through h2 to hf. It' the handle b is turned in the wrong direction, the springpin t' glides over a graduated notch, as shown at h3, Fig. 6, and the contact-springs are thereby prevented from being injured. Then the handle Z is turned in the direction for putting IOO which is to act as an electric contact or connecting medium for oneof the conductors ofthe circuit as seen at e so that this conductor is not disturbed, no mattei' in which direction i) may be turned. It hns also a further object, which is to exercise a sufcient pressure upon the shaft to keep the same in its place for properly' operating the contact mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a switch for incandescent lamps, the combination ofthe top spiral spring at e, resting upon and in electrical contact with the shaft, the thumbpiece b, and safety device consisting ofthe spring 7i', collar h2, and notched or ratched barrel h3, substantiallyT as described.

2. In a switch for incandescent lamps, the combination of' the contact-making springs a a, -varying in Width and Fixed to and in electrical contact with the shaft, and operated by the thumbpiece b, the grooved contact-strips in c c, the grooves varying in Width to suit the varying width oi' the contact-springs, said grooves having the stop-pins c2 c2 and wire connections d d, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a switch i'or incandescent lamps, the combination ot' the contact-making springs a a, varying in width, the grooved contact-strips in c c, having the stoppins c2 c2 and Wire connections d d, said grooves varying in width to suit the varying width ofthe springs a a, the safety device consisting ot' the spring lo', co1- lar h2, and notched or ratched barrel h3, thumbpiece I), and spiral spring at c, substantially as shown and described.

et. In a switch for incandescent lamps, the combination ofthe inclosing switclrbox, having the radial sockets g g for thereception ot'the burner branches, the grooved pieces c c, having the contact-strips, stop-pins c2, and wire connections d d, substantially as described and shown.

CHARLES PERKINS. 

